Hardik Pandya scored 60 off 21 balls for the Mumbai Indians batting in the final six overs vs Rajasthan Royals in Dubai on Sunday. However, his knock was not enough to see his team home as Ben Stokes and Sanju Samson batted Mumbai out of the game. Meanwhile, in between the game, Hardik took a knee just after reaching his fifty supporting the Black Lives Matter Movement. It evoked an emotional reaction from his MI teammate Kieron Pollard as well.
Hardik Pandya Supports Black Lives Matter Movement
#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/yzUS1bWh7F
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) October 25, 2020
For anyone wondering why he has a smile on his face, here.. pic.twitter.com/4CmcnyVqbF
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) October 25, 2020
The Emergence of BLM Movement
The BLM movement is one of the most devoted topics in recent times. It is a stand to disregard the aspect of racism in the game. The African and the Windies players have been at the receiving end of differences due to their skin colour in the gentleman’s game. The movement was started in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in the USA in March earlier this year.
Also Read: Gautam Gambhir Points Out Steve Smith Issue With Rajasthan Royals
Incidentally, former Windies skipper Darren Sammy spoke about racism in the IPL when he was a part of the tournament in 2013. The movement picked up momentum during the CPL in the Caribbean as all teams took a knee before the first three games of the tournament.
The Windies players led by Jason Holder took the knee in the Test series against England earlier this year as well. Players of international repute have voiced their opinion regarding racism in cricket and the consequences of the same. Holder further point out the inadequacy of the Cricket Writers Club, that they have not been able to influence players in the IPL to take a knee in this matter.
Meanwhile, the Sydney Thunder in the WBBL has pledged to take the knee throughout the tournament to show their support towards the movement.
Also Read: Chennai Super Kings Knocked Out From IPL 2020
